Currently unavailable

From Our Community

1 Image

“This tea called to me this morning after reading Doulton’s fabulous write-up on it the other day. I think it was pre-Shakespeare box when I had this last, so I was quite curious to see what...”
Read full tasting note

“i think calling this ‘evening escape’ is strange as i would never really drink this type of tea in the evening. but maybe it’s like you can travel to an evening-time mood anytime...”
Read full tasting note

From Tea Guys

We blended a fine Keemun, called the “Burgundy of Tea”, famous for its natural sweetness and unique complex aroma with a hint of a pleasantly smokey China black tea, Lapsang Souchong, to create the perfect companion to a place by the fire. A wonderful way to end your day!

8 Tasting Notes

This tea called to me this morning after reading Doulton’s fabulous write-up on it the other day. I think it was pre-Shakespeare box when I had this last, so I was quite curious to see what I now thought of it. While it steeped I looked at the back of the tea packet where a somewhat lengthier description was written. It was a somewhat vindicating moment in that is mentions Keemun and Lapsang Souchong. The Tea Guys’ website mentions only Keemun and Darjeeling! I thought that I was going crazy as I tried to taste Darjeeling in my earlier cups and kept thinking, “but it tastes more like a Lapsang — maybe it’s how Keemun and Darjeeling interact that makes it smokey?”

With my mind no longer distracted by trying to find things that weren’t in the blend I found this more enjoyable. I think that it’s my favorite Keemun blend by far, and a decent Lapsang Souchong blend. I want to try this tea at boiling next time since I’m getting a dryness at the back of my throat. Bumped up the rating from a 78. NE

ETA: Oh, just remembered the Rose Keemun blend that I loved from the Shakespeare box — so this would be my second-most favorite Keemun blend :)

Preparation

I was very lucky and won in the supremely entertaining, intelligent, and creative Geek Day Tea Giveaway that Rabs planned.

The tea package came with intriguing instructions and each tea beautifully wrapped. I had to wait to procure my camera from my son and then took some pictures: the pictures do not do justice to the elegant packaging.

I hope that the above link will show you the beautiful and drop-dead gorgeous packaging. I am certain that this is the way gifts are packaged in the Tokyo branch of Tiffanys.

Today I rolled the die that RABS included and came up with an 8. The tea is Evening Escape by Tea Guys. Even though it was close to 3 in the afternoon, I decided to drink it instantly because the packages says “black tea, flower petels”. I opened the package and smelt——my sorely missed morning Lapsang Souchong!!!! Really! I wouldn’t consider Lapsang Souchongs an “evening escape” unless enjoyed with an opium pipe. The smell really stoked me to expect a great tea and this one did not disappoint me at all. I see that the Tea Guys are from Massachusetts and I can visualize them having Arlo Guthrie over for tea, music, and a pipe on the evening. They are on Adirondack rocking chairs on the wrap-around veranda of a retropurposed farmhouse which is now a tea blending company. As I wait for the tea to steep my mental image of the tea guys is complete. There were those lovely purple-blue flowers in the tea as well—-I believe that they are mallow flowers—and I like them. Anyhow, I see the Tea Guys as looking a bit like Crosby, Stills, and Nash of 45 years ago. “Carry On” they sing as they pick their mallow flowers.

My first impression is that this tea is a light Lapsang with the sweet floral highlights. I really like it a lot because I start to slurp it eagerly. It does taste a bit like a combination of Leland Lapsang and Mariage Freres Eros and in the combination it becomes unique. I know I will have to order this tea!
I felt as if I had been prudent enough. I waited almost 24 hours before the lovely package from RABS arrived to roll the dice so I decided to have a second cup and to try the sweetener/milk combination. NB: I do end up preferring most teas with a bit of whole milk and a few little brown/amber sugar crystals. This tea stands up to the milk without compromising any of its integrity and the sugar if anything enhances the sweetness of the floral element.

All in all, I pronounce this tea a quasi-divinity and pronounce Rabs a tea-Goddess for coming up with this lovely and alluring competition.

Evening Escape by the Tea Guys is very versatile: it will taste like bacon in the morning; like a robust lapsang with flowers in the afternoon. And the evening? It might just be an escape, but it is no soothingly lazy herbal blend. This is a daytime tea for me and a delicious delight.

May thanks to RABS for her exquisite inventive imagination and her superb good taste.

::blushes and does a happy dance:: Doulton: you’re so very welcome! I loved your review!

I mailed all the packages at the same time, but the 1st and 2nd place winners are still waiting for theirs :( So hopefully we start seeing more “game posts” next week.

Thanks for the great pics! I was in such a hurry to get the packages out the door that I didn’t even think to take photos before sending them off. And I love the photo where you see a bit of a fluffy cat :)

I’m so glad that you rolled an 8 this time around since you had such a bad morning experience (I was truly hoping that you would roll high). I ended up purchasing a full bag of this one because I was so sad when I used up the last of the sample — I need to go back and reread my original review.

Love the packaging – and the imagery! Could it be considered an evening tea because the lapsang leaves are usually lower in caffeine? I read that somewhere but don’t remember where. I read far too many tea sites when I should be doing other things…

i think calling this ‘evening escape’ is strange as i would never really drink this type of tea in the evening. but maybe it’s like you can travel to an evening-time mood anytime of the day with this tea?
oh i see, you can end the day with a cozy sit by the fire. this is a fireside blanket in a cup.

it’s a lapsang blend. and i love lapsang blends. it has some little floral notes. it is a cheerier and lighter lapsang than we might be used to.